Roadiside weed burner



1949- A. s. LASSEIGNE ETAL 2,485,391

ROADSI'DE WEED BURNER 2 SheetS-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1947 W 1949- A. s. LASSEIGNE EI'AL 2 3 ROADS IDE WEED BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1'7, 1947 /NVENTO J 4R7-HU/E' S. LASSE/GNEP ETIENNE LALASSE/GNE Patented Oct. 18, 1949 ROADSIDE WEED BURNER Arthur S. Lasseigne and Etienne J. Lasseigne, Reserve, La.

Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,116

9 Claims. (Cl. 126-2712) This invention relates to weed burners and, more particularly to a device for burning weeds along the sides of roadways and adapted to employ a liquified gas as a fuel.

In road maintenance it is customary to keep down the weeds, bushes, grass and the like, that grow alongside the roads to provide the traveler with a clear vision of the shoulders and ditches bordering the road. This weed control is generally effected by cutting the weeds with a mower which cuts the weeds in a plane and creates the undesirable allusion that the ground thereunder is level. In order to overcome this difficulty, the weeds must be cut out of the ditches and on banks by hand, as with scythes or the like, and this involves considerable labor and manpower.

To overcome the above stated difficulties, it has been proposed to remove the weeds by burning with flame throwers so that the weeds would be burned to the ground and the contour of the roadside would be clearly visible. The devices that have been proposed for this purpose have not been entirely satisfactory, however, on sev eral counts. It has been the universal practice to employ an oil for the fuel and this requires a large, cumbersome and expensive apparatus. Furthermore, the flame produced by the oil is soft as distinguished from a blast flame and does not penetrate thick, matted vegetation but merely sears the top thereof and does not create sufiicient heat, except within the flame, to burn moist, green vegetation. In addition, the burners or flamethrowers have not had suflicient versatility of movement to permit their proper adjustment to accommodate specific roadside conditions, or, if adjustably mounted, have been so complicated from a mechanical standpoint that they are unduly expensive and difficult to regulate.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art apparatus, it is an object of this invention to provide a burner or flamethrower, for use in cleaning roadsides, that is adapted to employ a liquified gas as fuel and is provided with a burner that is capable of projecting a blast flame that is capable of creating a high degree of heat and will penetrate thick and matted vegetation and effectively consume moist, green vegetation. It is an additional object of the invention to mount the burner so that it may readily and easily be adjusted laterally and angularly with respect to the ground. It is a further object of the invention to provide a structure for adjustably supporting the burner that may also be employed as a gas pressure chamber for supplying vapor- 2 ized gas to the burner mounted thereon. It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that may be unitarily mounted upon a sulky adapted as a trailer which may be hitched onto any suitable traction unit.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by a blast flame burner adapted to employ ayaporized gas, which burner is slidably mounted upon an elongated frame that is pivotally supported by a suitable carriage upon which is mounted a supply tank adapted to contain liquified gas. The tank is provided with a pressure regulator which is connected with a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquified gas and supplying the vaporized gas to the burner. The frame is composed of a pair of elongated side members, one of which is hollow and is connected with the vaporizer to function as a pressure chamber and to supply the vaporized gas to the burner unit. The burner is provided with a suitable nozzle for directing the blast flame toward the ground, and suitable controls are provided for effecting the sliding adjustment of the burner unit and the pivotal adjustment of the burnersupporting frame, springs being provided to counterbalance the weight of the frame. Although the apparatus may be mounted upon any type of carriage, it is preferred that it be mounted upon a sulky or trailer that may be hitched behind any suitable mobile power unit, such as a tractor or truck.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the. invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a roadside weed burner comprising the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional Vi6W taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken approximately on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is side View in elevation, on a reduced scale, of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, the present invention comprises a burner III provided with a flame-directing nozzle I I and which is suspended by a sleeve hanger I2 from an elongated frame I3 that is pivotally mounted on a mobile support I4. The frame I3 that is mounted on one side and adjacent one end'so that its other end portion extends laterally of the support I4 and the burner I is slidably mounted on this free end. Th burner I0 is preferably one of the so-called fan-mix type, such as shown in Patent No. 2,177,245 to Edward L. Dennis. This type of burner is preferred as it is adapted to produce the desired blast typ of flame with its high heat and to employ liquified gas .as a fuel. The elongated frame I3 is composed of a pair of spaced round pipes I5 and I5 as they afford the greatest strength at minimum weight, and these pipes I5 and I5 are joined by cross members I5, Ilia and I612, which may be formed of channel irons, to create a rigid frame. The round pipes are preferred as the inner pipe I5 may then function as a shaft and be journaled in sleeves I! mounted on the support I4, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that the frame I3 may be pivoted in the sleeves I'I relative to the support I4. In addition, the outer pipe I5 may be employed as a gas chamber or supply line for feeding the gas to the burner III.

The .cross members It and IE1), at the ends of the frame I3, seal the ends of the pipes I5 and I5 with the exception that the outer cross member IBb has a hole therethrough, in communication with the interior of the pipe I 5, and a nozzle 29 fixed at said hole and adapted to receive one end of a flexible hose 2I which may be connected at the other end with the burner I9. An intermediate cross member I6 is spaced from the inner end of the frame to limit lateral movement of the frame I3 in the sleeves I]. The hose 2I must be sufiiciently long to accommodate lateral movement of the burner III on the frame I3 and, in order to prevent the hose H from dragging, it may be suspended centrally thereof by an elastic or slide hanger 22 suspended from an arm 23 that is mounted on the outer end of the frame I3.

A nipple 25 is provided on the inner end of the frame pipe I5 to receive one end of a flexible hose 25 that is connected with a vaporizing unit 21 which is mounted upon a base 28 that straddles the pipes I5 and I5 of the frame I3. The flexible hose 26 must have sufficient length to accommodate the swinging movement of the vaporizer 21 during the pivotal movement of the frame I3. The vaporizing unit 2'! may be conventional in type and is connected by a flexible tube 29, having a control valve 39, with a pressure regulating unit 3i which is mounted on, and in communication with, a liquid gas tank .32 that is positioned on the mobile support I4. By this arrangement the liquid gas is supplied from the tank 32 at a pressure maintained by the regulator 3|, past the valve and through the tube 29 to the vaporizer 27 which vaporizes the gas and feeds it through the hose 26 into the pipe I5, which acts as a pressure chamber, and thence through the hose 2I through the burner III.

It is desirable that the burner hood or nozzle I I may be adjusted vertically or through an angle in accordance with the ground level and the thickness, greenness or matting of the weed growth. To accomplish this action, as best shown in Fig. 3, the frame I3 is provided with an upstanding arm 35 that is connected by a link 36 with a hand lever 31 that is pivoted on a pin 38 carried by an upstanding frame 39 that is mounted on the support I4. The hand lever 3! is of a well-known type having a retractable tooth that is adapted to cooperate with a ratchet 49, which is also mounted upon the frame 39, for holding the lever 3! in the desired position. Thus, the operator riding on the support I4, may swing the hand lever 31 which pulls or pushes the link 36 and :arm :35 to swing the frame I3 about the axis of the bearings II to adjust the spacing and angle of the hood or nozzle I I of the burner III as shown in Fig. 4. The weight of the frame I3 may be counterbalanced by springs 42 connected at one end to the outer pipe I5 and at the other to the top of the frame 39 and a corresponding frame 39 on the other side of the support I4.

As previously stated, the burner II] is slidably suspended on the frame I3 by the hanger I2 and this arrangement is preferred so that the burner I0 may be moved laterally along the frame and With respect to the support I4. In order to accomplish this movement, the burner I9 is connected on each side with the ends of a cable 45 which is looped over a sheave or pulley 45 mounted on the outer end of the frame I3 and has several turns wound around a drum 4! which is mounted astraddle the frame I3. As best shown in Fig. 5, the drum 4'! is so mounted on a shaft 48 with a bevel gear 49, the shaft 48 being journaled in bearing members 59 which are mounted respectively on the pipes I5 and I5. A vertical shaft 5I has a bevel pinion 52 mounted on its lower end and a hand wheel 53 mounted on its upper end. The vertical shaft 5I is journalled in an upstanding frame 54 that is mounted on the frame I3, the shaft 5I being so positioned that its bevel pinion 52 meshes with the bevel gear 49 on the .drum shaft 48. Thus, an operator,- riding on the support I4, may laterally adjust the burner III by turning the hand wheel 53 which, through the action of the bevel gears 49 and 52, rotates the drum 4! and winds the cable 45 thereon to pull the burner IIJ along the frame I3 in accordance with the direction in which the hand wheel 53 is turned.

In order to provide the desired mobility, the support I4 is preferably in the form of a sulky or cart, as best shown in Fig. 6, comprising a bed 55 mounted upon a single axle 55 that is supported by a pair of wheels 5'! and provided with a draw bar 58 carrying a hitch 59 for connection with a suitable power traction unit. The bed 55 is so positioned on the axle 55 that the wheels 51 support approximately two-thirds of the weight of the unit whereas the connection between the hitch and the traction unit provides the desired balance of the unit while obtaining the maximum in flexibility of movement. A strut or stand 60 is pivotally connected by a bracket 6| to the outer end of the draw bar 58 to provide the third point of support when the hitch 59 is not connected with a tractor.

To operate the device the hitch 59 is coupled to a traction unit and the strut or stand 50 is pivoted upwardly on the bracket 5! to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6. The gas control valve 39 may then be opened to start the flow of liquid gas from the tank 32, in accordance with the pressure established by the regulator 3I, through the tube 29 to the vaporizer 21. In order to accommodate a large fuel supply within a small inexpensive unit it is preferred to employ a liquified gas, such as propane gas, as the burning medium. Due to the properties of such liquified gases, as propane, they will vaporize when their pressures are reduced, but in doing 50, their temperatures also decrease, thus reducing the rate at which they vaporize.

In view of the foregoing condition, it has been found best, when drawing the liquified gas from the tank 32, to increase its rate of vaporization in order to obtain the vapor in sufficient quantity to supply the burner H] for maximum operating efficiency. The increased rate of vaporization is obtained by directing the liquified gas into the vaporizer 21, which is of a standard type, wherein heat is supplied to the gas to insure its complete vaporization and yet be delivered at a temperature above that of normal atmosphere and with a minimum decrease in pressure. The vaporized gas, upon leaving the vaporizer 21, is directed into the gas chamber formed by the pipe I5, which, as a reservoir of sufficient volume, tends to maintain a constant pressure at the burner l0. The vaporized gas is directed from the gas chamber l5 to the burner by the flexible hose 2|.

The burner 10 is preferably of the fan-mix type which is so designed as to provide the proper air mixture with the vaporized gas for complete combustion and to deliver the burning gas and air mixture through the burner head or nozzle H with such velocity as to assure complete penetrations of the heat through a matting of green weeds, as well as permitting complete control of the heat for distribution. The rate of travel of the burner ID, or of the support M, is regulated by the temperature of the hot gases which are delivered from the burner H] and the matting and greenness of the weeds. The positioning of the burner I5 is likewise prescribed by these conditions.

In accordance with the spacing of the weeds from the road side, the burner I 0 is adjusted along the frame l3, the supply hose 8| being of sufiicient length to permit movement of the burner [0 the full length of the free end of the frame I3. This movement is accomplished by winding the cable 45, in one direction or the other, according to the desired directions of movement, on the drum 4! by means of the hand Wheel 53. Likewise the frame [3, the supply hose 2| being of sufficient in accordance with the height of the weed growth and irregularity of the land. This movement is accomplished by pivoting the frame I3 in its sleeve bearings 11 by means of the hand lever 31 which is connected to the frame [3 by the link 36 and crank arm 35.

In view of the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention contemplates a structure in which are eliminated all moving units that will wear through continuous operation, with the single exception of the burner supporting bearings I! which may be encased in a body of oil. The burner l0 obtains its power for operation from the pressure developed by the gas itself, thus, no other source of power is necessary.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except by the spirit of the appended claims.

That which is claimed, as new, is:

1. In an apparatus for burning weeds and the like, a wheeled vehicle support, an elongated frame pivotally mounted on said support along one of its sides adjacent one end of said frame so that its other end portion extends laterally beyond said support, manually operable means on said support and having an operative connec tion with said frame for adjustably pivoting said frame relative to said support and located for access by an operator on said support, a burner slidably mounted on the extended portion of said frame, and manually operable means for adjustably sliding said burner along said extended frame portion and located for access by said operator on said support.

2. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like which comprises a mobile support, an elongated frame pivotally mounted on said support along on side adjacent one end of said frame so that its other end portion extends beyond said support, one of the elongated side members of said frame being formed by a hollow member, means on said support for adj ustably pivoting said frame relative thereto, a burner slidably mounted on the extended portion of said frame, means for sliding said burner along said extended frame portion, a fuel supply tank on said support, a fuel line between said fuel supply tank and said hollow frame member, and a fuel line between the outer extended end portion of said hollow frame member and said burner.

3. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like which comprises a mobile support, an elongated frame pivotally mounted on said support along one side adjacent one end on said frame so that its other end portion extends laterally beyond said support, one of the elongated side members of said frame being formed by a hollow member, means on said support for adjustably pivoting said frame relative thereto, a burner slidably mounted on the extended portion of said frame, means for sliding said burner along said extended frame portion, a fuel supply tank on said support, a vaporizer mounted on said frame adjacent said support, a flexible fuel line between said fuel supply tank and said vaporizer, a fuel line between said vaporizer and said hollow frame member, and a flexible fuel line between the outer extended end portion of said hollow frame member and said burner.

4. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like which comprises a mobile support, journals mounted on said support, an elongated rectangular frame including elongated side members formed by hollow round pipes, one of said side members being pivotally mounted in said journals and adjacent one end thereof so that the other end portion of the frame extends laterally beyond said support, means on said support for adjustably pivoting said frame relative thereto, a burner slidably mounted on the extended portion of said frame, means for sliding said burner along said extended frame portion, a fuel supply tank on said support, a vaporizer mounted on said frame adjacent said support, a fuel line between said fuel supply tank and said vaporizer, a fuel line between said vaporizer and one of said hollow side members, and a fuel line between the outer extended end portion of said hollow side member and said burner.

5. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like which comprises a mobile support, journals mounted on the rear end of said support, an elongated rectangular frame including elongated side members formed by hollow round pipes, one of said side members being pivotally mounted in said journals, means on said support for adjustably pivoting said frame vertically relative to said support, a burner slidably mounted on said frame, means for sliding said burner along said frame,

a fuel supply tank on said support, a flexible fuel line between said fuel supply tank and one of said hollow side members, and a flexible fuel line between the outer extended end portion of said hollow side member and said burner.

6. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like which comprises a mobile support, journals mounted on said support, an elongated rectangular frame including elongated side members formed by hollow round pipes, one of said side members bein pivotally mounted in said journals and adjacent one end thereof so that the other end portion of the frame extends laterally beyond said support, means on said support for adjustably pivoting said frame relative thereto, a burner slidably mounted on the extended portion of said frame and adapted to burn a fluid fuel, means for sliding said burner along said extended frame portion, a fuel supply tank adapted to contain liquified fuel and being mounted on said support, a vaporizer adapted to vaporize the liquified fuel and being mounted on said frame adjacent said support, a fuel line between said fuel supply tank and said vaporizer to permit its movement with said frame, a fuel line between said vaporizer and one of said hollow side members to supply vaporized gas to said hollow member which functions as a pressure chamber, and a fuel line between the outer extended end portion of said hollow side member and said burner.

7. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like and for attachment to a transportable support, said apparatus comprising an elongated frame, means for mounting the frame on the support in a horizontal position, a burner mounted on said frame for movement lengthwise of the frame, means projecting from the burner for directing the flame, and means for adjusting the burner along said frame and which includes a manually operated drum journalled on the frame at one end portion of the latter, and a sheave mounted at the other end portion of the frame, an endless cable attached to the burner and wound about said drum and passing over said sheave, and means for connecting said burner with the source of fuel supply.

8. A weed burner as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means mounting the frame on the support comprises brackets in which the frame is mounted for movement about a horizontal axis and means for angularly adjusting said frame about said horizontal axis.

9. An apparatus for burning weeds and the like, for attachment to a transportable support, said apparatus comprising a horizontal frame including a pair of spaced parallel members, a burner slidably mounted upon said parallel members, a manually operated drum journalled at one end portion of the frame, a sheave at the other end portion, an endless cable connected to said burner and passing over said sheave and being wound about said drum, brackets for mounting said frame on said support and in which one of said parallel members is rotatably mounted, and a connecting means between the burner and a source of fuel supply.

ARTHUR S. LASSEIGNE. ETIENNE J. LASSEIGNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,278 Archer Feb. 25, 1890 457,702 Bruce Aug. 11, 1891 526,300 Dawson et a1 Sept. 18, 1894 896,774 Totman Aug. 25, 1908 919,328 Dubois Apr. 27, 1909 1,433,885 Fuller Oct. 31, 1922 1,500,340 Smith July 8, 1924 1,523,975 Little Jan. 20, 1925 1,696,888 Schultz Dec. 25, 1928 1,799,035 Benien et a1 Mar. 31, 1931 1,987,603 Claesson Jan. 15, 1935 2,008,891 Woods July 23, 1935 2,043,761 Marshall June 9, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 429,940 Germany June 8, 1926 

